If the NHL season starts on time, the Winnipeg Jets could be without one of their top defencemen for more than half of it.

Zach Bogosian will undergo surgery by a renowned physician in Ohio, Friday, for what the team calls a “chronic ligament tear in his right wrist.”

The operation will keep Bogosian out for up to six months, a team spokesman said, pegging his potential return for the end of February.

“During off-season training, Zach experienced discomfort and was limited in his performance,” Jets head physician Dr. Peter MacDonald said in a statement, Thursday. “Zach will thus undergo surgery this upcoming Friday performed by Dr. Thomas Graham at the Cleveland Clinic in Ohio."

The Jets say Graham has assisted the team before, and has performed surgery on numerous athletes from the NHL, NBA and Major League Baseball.

One report had surgeries like Bogosian’s calling for a return in three months, but the Jets say that’s only if everything goes perfectly during the surgery and recovery. Four to six months is more likely.

The 22-year-old was bothered by wrist trouble at times last season, sitting out seven games in February.

Nobody from the team was made available to comment.

Bogosian offered this via his Twitter account: “Thank you everyone for the well wishes it is much appreciated, hoping for a speedy recovery.”

He suited up in 65 games last season, posting five goals and 25 assists, with a minus-3 rating and 71 minutes in penalties.

WELL EXPOSED: NHL teams released their broadcast schedules, Thursday, and every Jets game will once again be televised.

Assuming a lockout doesn’t cut into the season, CBC-TV’s Hockey Night in Canada will take 21 games, including the season opener, Oct. 13, against Carolina.

TSN’s national network will broadcast five games, with the rest, including all preseason games, on TSN’s regional specialty channel, TSN Jets.

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